Catharanthus plant named &#39;Suncatha 2335&#39;

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Catharanthus  plant having vigorous, upright plant habit, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season and great profusion of double, bright red purple flowers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119to U.S. provisional plant patent application Ser. No. 61/960,551, filedSep. 20, 2013, entitled ‘Suncatha 2335’.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Catharanthus roseus

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

Suncatha 2335

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofCatharanthus plant, which is hereinafter referred to by the name of‘Suncatha 2335’.

Catharanthus roseus, which is also known as Vinca rosea, is a verypopular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summerand autumn season.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain a new Catharanthus cultivarhaving vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching,especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plantthroughout the growing season and great profusion of double, bright redpurple flowers, the entire bush remaining in bloom for a considerableperiod of time.

The new Catharanthus plant was originated from a cross-pollination ofthe female parent ‘S22-P-5’ and the male parent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’. Thefemale parent ‘S22-P-5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietaryCatharanthus roseus selection), having pale pink petals, and the maleparent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is astrain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthusroseus selection), having red single petals, which was applied forJapanese plant variety protection (the application number: 25152; theapplication date: 2010 Aug. 31; the registration number: 21647; theregistration date: 2012 Mar. 19). The cross-pollination was conducted inSep. 10, 2010 at Yame-gun, Fukuoka, Japan.

In February 2012, the seedlings obtained by the crossing were planted infield, and some seedlings were selected in view of growth habit, flowersize and color thereof. In August 2012, the stem tip culturing wascarried out, and then the propagation was started.

In July 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated. Thebotanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, usingsimilar varieties ‘Daiichi-S23-25’ and ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ forcomparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Catharanthus plantis distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is currentlyknown, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics.

The new variety of Catharanthus roseus plant is named ‘Suncatha 2335’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is unlike any Catharanthus plants commerciallyavailable as evidenced by the following unique combinations ofcharacteristics.

1. Vigorous, upright plant characteristics.

2. Abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from thebase of the plant throughout the growing season.

3. Great profusion of double, bright red purple flowers, the entire bushremaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2335’ differs from the similar variety‘Daiichi-S23-25’, which was applied for Japanese plant varietyprotection (the application number: 27372; the application date: 2012Sep. 3; the registration number 23254; the registration date: 2014 Mar.12), in the following points.

1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2335’ isbright red purple (RHS N66C). That of ‘Daiichi-S23-25’ is PURPLE-VIOLET(RHS near N80A).

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2335’ differs from the similar variety‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’, which was applied for Japanese plant varietyprotection (the application number: 25152; the application date: 2010Aug. 31; the registration number 21647; the registration date: 2012 Mar.19), in the following points.

1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2335’ isbright red purple (RHS N66C). That of ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is white (RHSNN155C).

2. The leaf size (L×W) of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is 49 mm×23 mm. That of‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is 45 mm×28 mm.

3. The petiole length of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is 10.5 mm. That of‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is 7.0 mm.

This new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’ was asexiallyreproduced by the use of cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, andhomogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plantretains its distinctive characteristics and produces true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plant's had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and werephotographed during October 2013 while growing outdoors in wall potswith about 15 cm of container size at an age of approximately 6 months.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a typical plant of the new variety ofCatharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’ while growing in a pot.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a close view of flowers of the new variety ofCatharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In October 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated atHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The average day temperature was about 25° C.,and the average night temperature was about 15° C. The plants were grownunder natural sunlight. The number of days to flowering (response time)was about 3 to 4 weeks. The keeping quality was about 180 days. Theplants had temperature resistance to about −5° C. (the lowesttemperature) and about 35 to 40° C. (the highest temperature). Further,the plants had the same tolerance to pests and pathogens as a typicalCatharanthus plant.

For the parentage information: The female parent ‘S22-P-5’ (unpatented)used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant'sbreeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), havingpale pink petals, and the male parent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ used in thecrossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines(i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having red singlepetals, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (theapplication number: 25152; the application date: 2010 Aug. 31; theregistration number: 21647; the registration date: 2012 Mar. 19).

For the propagation information: the new cultivar was propagated bycutting; the number of days to initiate roots during the summer wasabout two weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during thesummer was around 30° C.; the number of days to initiate roots duringthe winter was about three weeks; approximate soil and/or airtemperature during the winter was around 25° C.; the number of days toproduce a rooted young plant during the summer was about five weeks; thenumber of days to produce a rooted young plant during the winter wasabout six weeks; root density was moderate; root branching was free;root color was white; and root texture was fibrous.

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety ofCatharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2335’ at an age of approximately 4months are shown in the following Table. In the following description,the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour ChartThe 5th edition 2007).

PLANT VARIETY DESCRIPTION APPLICATION VARIETY CHARACTERISTIC Suncatha2335 ANNUAL, BIENNIAL or PERENNIAL? Grown as annual TYPE OF PLANT: i.e.,TREE, SHRUB, Potted plant SUBSHRUB, VINE, CUT FLOWER, POTTED PLANTAPPROPRIATE CONTAINERS +/or Ideal for pots, CROPPING SYSTEM hangingbaskets. GROWTH HABIT Upright PLANT HEIGHT About 22.0 cm PLANT DIAMETEROR AREA OF SPREAD About 25.0 cm PLANT VIGOR Vigorous BRANCHING HABITFreely branching BASAL BRANCHING? Present PINCHING REQUIRED? Notrequired. NUMBER OF LATERAL BRANCHES About 7 NUMBER OF SECONDARY LATERALAbout 2 BRANCHES LATERAL BRANCH LENGTH About 20.5 cm LATERAL BRANCHDIAMETER About 4.3 mm INTERNODE LENGTH About 22.5 mm STEM ASPECT Uprightto outward RHS Near 142C STEM COLOR (and bark color, if Upper: withanthocyanin applicable) pigmentation colored 182B STEM COLOR (if any)RHS Near 182B STEM PUBESCENCE Present, few OTHER PLANT/STEMCHARICTERISTICS — LEAF ARRANGEMENT Opposite COMPOUND OR SIMPLE? SimpleQUANTITY OF LEAVES PER LATERAL About 12 BRANCH LEAF (LEAFLET) SHAPENarrow elliptic LEAF (LEAFLET) TIP Acute LEAF (LEAFLET) BASE Obtuse LEAFLENGTH About 49.1 mm LEAF WIDTH About 23.0 mm LEAF THICKNESS About 0.3mm LEAF (LEAFLET) TEXTURE Pubescent, both sides LEAF PUBESCENCE? PresentLEAF (LEAFLET) MARGIN Entire VENATION PATTERN Reticulate venation LEAFCOLOR, YOUNG, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 137A LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UNDER SIDE RHSNear 137D LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near141B~143B LEAF COLOR,MATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Near N137C VENATION COLOR, UPPER SIDE RHS Near137C VENATION COLOR, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 142D VARIEGATION? AbsentPETIOLE? Present PETIOLE LENGTH About 10.5 mm PETIOLE DIAMETER About 3.3mm PETIOLE TEXTURE Pubescent PETIOLE COLOR RHS Near 182A OTHER FOLIAGECHARACTERISTICS — FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Borne in upper leaf axils.INFLORESCENCE TYPE OR FORM (if Solitary applicable) QUANTITY OF FLOWERSPER PLANT About 40 FLOWER TYPE or FORM Double FLOWERING HABITContinuously NATURAL FLOWERING SEASON Early summer to late autumn TIMETO FLOWER OR RESPONSE TIME About 2~3 weeks FRAGRANCE Absent FLOWER BUDLENGTH About 38.9 mm FLOWER BUD DIAMETER About 6.9 mm FLOWER BUD SHAPEClavate FLOWER BUD COLOR RHS Naer 65D FLOWER ASPECT; i.e., UPRIGHT,Upright OUTWARD, DROOPING, etc. FLOWER PARACOROLLA Present FLOWERDIAMETER About 43.4 mm FLOWER DEPTH (HEIGHT) About 43.6 mm FLOWERLONGEVITY ON PLANT About 2~3 days PERSISTENT OR SELF-CLEANING? Notpersistent. PETAL TEXTURE, UPPER SURFACE Smooth PETAL TEXTURE, LOWERSURFACE Smooth TUBE TEXTURE Smooth, pubescent PETAL ARRANGEMENT FreePETAL NUMBER 10, Double PETALS FUSED? Fused PETAL SHAPE Outside:Oblanceolate Inside: Obtrullate PETAL MARGIN Absent or very weakASYMMETRY OR SYMMETRY Outside: Asymmetry Inside: Symmetry PETAL TIPMucronate PETAL BASE Fused PETAL LENGTH Outside: about 24.9 mm Inside:about 20.1 mm PETAL WIDTH Outside: about 16.5 mm Inside: about 10.0 mmNUMBER OF PETAL COLOR, UPPER SIDE 1 (EXCEPT FLOWER EYE) PETAL COLOR ,WHEN OPENING, RHS Near N57C UPPERSIDE PETAL COLOR , WHEN OPENING, RHSNear 65C LOWERSIDE PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, RHS Near N66C UPPERSIDEPETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, Petal tip: RHS Near 65A~ LOWERSIDE 65C FLOWEREYE Present FlOWER EYE DIAMETER About 4.0 mm FlOWER EYE COLOR RHS Near60B RECEPTACLE Absent RECEPTACLE COLOR — TUBE DIAMETER About 1.7 mm TUBELENGTH About 25.1 mm THROAT COLOR(inside) RHS Near 145B~145D TUBECOLOR(outside) RHS Near 145A~145B Base: with anthocyanin pigmentationcolored 181C SEPAL ARRANGEMENT Single whorl NUMBER OF SEPALS 5 SEPALSHAPE Linear-triangular SEPAL MARGIN Entire SEPAL TIP Acute SEPAL BASEFused SEPAL LENGTH About 2.9 mm SEPAL WIDTH About 0.9 mm SEPALCOLOR,IMMATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 144B SEPAL COLOR,IMMATURE, UNDERSIDE RHS Near 144B SEPAL COLOR,MATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 144B SEPALCOLOR,MATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 144B CALYX SHAPE Star shape CALYXLENGTH About 3.8 mm CALYX DIAMETER About 4.8 mm PEDUNCLE LENGTH About3.4 mm PEDUNCLE DIAMETER About 1.8 mm PEDUNCLE ANGLE Upright, slantingabove PEDUNCLE TEXTURE Smooth PEDUNCLE COLOR RHS Near 144B STAMEN NUMBER5 STAMEN LENGTH About 3.1 mm ANTHER SHAPE Narrow elliptic ANTHER SIZE(L) About 2.9 mm ANTHER SIZE (W) About 1.2 mm ANTHER COLOR RHS Near 8CAMOUNT OF POLLEN Few POLLEN COLOR RHS Near 8D PISTIL NUMBER 1 PISTILLENGTH About 20.8 mm STIGMA SHAPE Transversely ellipsoidal STIGMA COLORRHS Near 145A STYLE COLOR RHS Near 145C OVARY COLOR RHS Near 145B OTHERFLOWER CHARACTERISTICS — QUANTITY OF SEEDS Seeds production has not beenobserved. ROOT STRUCTURES such as BULBS, Fibrous root CORMS or RHIZOMES?LOW TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around 5° C. HIGH TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around35° C.~40° C. DISEASE RESISTANCE AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY RESISTANCEOF PESTS AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY

This new variety of Catharanthus plant having the above botanicalcharacteristics is suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularlyin hanging pots or planters.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plantnamed ‘Suncatha 2335’, substantially as herein illustrated anddescribed.